Learn to Love the Morning

Another casually baked ritual of mine is an early morning self-care routine.  For 38 years I most definitely was not a morning person. However, a couple of years ago my daily routine of meditation was suddenly interrupted with a new job and commute.  For the first time in years I’d gone five days without meditating and I was feeling myself slipping back to my less-evolved self. Johanna, with the rough edges, gets irritated quickly and snaps at folks.  I’ve been told she’s a little scary.

I needed more time in my day and knew exactly where to find it, but hadn’t been motivated until now.  I thought of my teenage summer mornings when Daddy would walk into our room at 5:30am, flip on the lights and tell us, “It’s a cold, cruel world out there. Get up. It’s time to go to work.” In the truck, driving out to the fence line we were building, I’d catch a 15-minute nap if I got the seat in the middle. If not, I’d just whine as I climbed in and out of the truck opening and closing gates while reminding him that my work day began at 5:30am and I was officially on the clock.

Over the course of a few months, I gradually changed my alarm from going off at 7am to now, 5:20am. I now have time for a stretching routine to wake up my body and set my intentions for the day. I have a healthy breakfast and catch up on some reading. I get casually baked and meditate and then take a morning walk around my hilly neighborhood with my Yeti full of coffee and watch nature and the world wake up while listening to one of my favorite podcasts. 

When I get home, it’s time to take a shower and start my regularly scheduled life programing.  These self-care mornings are the second best gift I’ve ever given myself. The first was my mid-life retirement, but we’ll save that for another time.

If you’re curious about adopting a cannabis for wellness lifestyle, I’m here to help. It’s my favorite thing to talk about so ask me anything.

Love,

Jo

My favorite podcasts if you're interested in exploring any of them: TED Radio Hour, How I Built This, Modern Love, Note to Self, Dear Sugar, Invisibilia, Women of the Hour